Cincinnati Bengals - TeamReport

On the heels of back-to-back playoff appearances for the first time in franchise history, the Bengals don't have many spots available on their depth chart.

One of the more interesting competitions developing is for the right to be the primary backup to starting quarterback Andy Dalton.

Bruce Gradkowski was the backup the past two seasons, but he was not re-signed and ended up going to Pittsburgh. Zac Robinson has been on the practice squad the last two years and has knowledge of Jay Gruden's system. The advantage though might lie with the two who weren't here last season. Josh Johnson was signed as a free agent and John Skelton was claimed on waivers after being released by Arizona.

Johnson and Skelton also have something that has been a prerequisite since Marvin Lewis became head coach in 2003 -- experience as a starter.

Gruden was heavily involved in close review of many of the draft's top quarterbacks, but the Bengals didn't draft one in 2013.

Why? When asked what he was looking for from his backup quarterback, Lewis said the biggest thing he is assessing is how efficient they lead the offense and how much confidence they have.

There have been few quarterback competitions since Lewis became has been in Cincinnati.

The closest prior to this year was in 2010 when Jordan Palmer had a good preseason to beat out J.T. O'Sullivan for the backup spot. Dalton is 19-13 as the Bengals starter, but has failed to finish four games. The only case in which he was sidelined due to injury was the 2011 opener when Dalton was injured at halftime and Gradkowski was able to rally the Bengals to a win at Cleveland.

The Bengals have been better than most teams in avoiding injuries to their starting quarterback. The last serious case of where a backup has seen major playing time was 2008, when Ryan Fitzpatrick played 12 games due to an elbow injury to Carson Palmer.

The tale of the tape shows no obvious edge entering minicamp next month.

Johnson is more athletic and has plenty of experience working in West Coast offenses. His first season in the league (2008) was when Jon Gruden was the head coach at Tampa Bay and Jay was an offensive assistant. Johnson said there are some similarities between the Bengals' system and that designed by Jon Gruden. Johnson spent three seasons with the Bucs, was with the 49ers in the 2011 preseason before getting released and had some time with the Browns last year.

Johnson's other advantage is that he has experience running a read-option offense, which Lewis has hinted at wanting to at least explore during the offseason.

"Obviously we're in a competition, so every day is critical. You want to take steps and show that you can be the guy every day," Johnson said. "Having a grasp of everything and showing that you can handle the huddle if something happens to Andy is very important, whether it's Day 1 or the last day."

Skelton, who was with the Cardinals for three years, has the stronger arm and has started 17 games, going 8-9. Skelton is more used to a downfield offense, so adjusting to a West Coast scheme is the biggest thing right now.

"As a backup quarterback, you're never going to get all those reps. So this competition kind of reflects the type of player you've got to be," Skelton said. "You've got to be mentally ready at all times. You've got to take mental reps -- you're not going to get the reps on the field -- whereas if you're competing for a starting job, you need as many reps as you can get because that's what you're simulating."

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NFL Team Report - Cincinnati Bengals - NOTES, QUOTES

--Cornerback Leon Hall expects to be able to participate in all drills next week. Hall has been limited the first two weeks of OTAs due to a strained ligament in the thumb. He has been taking place in all of the individual drills and most 7-on-7s, but not full team drills. Adam Jones could be out for the rest of OTAs because of a calf strain suffered during the first workout on May 21.

With Jones and Hall not at 100 percent, Brandon Ghee has been getting plenty of snaps with the first team. Ghee, who is going into his fourth season, had a good start to camp last year before breaking his wrist and missing the year. The one corner who needs snaps, Dre Kirkpatrick, continues to rehab from offseason knee surgery and is not expected to practice until training camp.

--Fifth-round pick Tanner Hawkinson has seen time at both tackle spots with the first team due to Andrew Whitworth rehabbing from offseason knee surgery and right tackle Andre Smith missing OTAs due to a personal issue. Hawkinson was projected to be a guard with the Bengals but played tackle at Kansas.

Said Hawkinson of the experience so far: "It was quite a bit getting thrown in there right away but it's what you want as a player. That way you learn the system a lot quicker, get acclimated to the type of play even if it's just in helmet. It's been great."

--Linebacker James Harrison said he can see the Bengals asking him to rush the quarterback more compared to when he was in Pittsburgh, where he had 64 sacks.

While dropping back into pass coverage was not one of Harrison's fortes in Pittsburgh, Harrison expects to be dropping back less with the Bengals and possibly not seeing any time on the defensive line.

As far as the adjustment to Mike Zimmer's system, Harrison said he struggled a little last week but has gained more confidence in this week's sessions.

"I'm playing SAM, so I'm basically doing the same thing I do in a 3-4 defense," Harrison said. "It's just that I'll switch where I'm lining up. I'll be in a 40 or 30, stacked behind a tackle or guard or whatever it may be. And I'll do my job from there."

QUOTE OF NOTE: "From Day 1 nothing has seemed too big for him. It's like 'You want to go do this, OK I'll go do this.'. He does it really well. That's why we picked him with the first pick and he's really well deserving." -- QB Andy Dalton on first-round pick Tyler Eifert.

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NFL Team Report - Cincinnati Bengals - STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

Running back Giovani Bernard signed with the Bengals, who now have eight of 10 draft picks under contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

A second-round pick, Bernard rushed for 2,481 yards and scored 31 touchdowns in just two seasons at North Carolina. He is expected to serve as BenJarvus Green-Ellis' primary backup, and Bernard also has good hands with 852 receiving yards for the Tar Heels.

"Giovani is a dynamic guy, both running the football and catching it," said Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis. "And he was one of North Carolina's hardest-working guys on the team, so he fits the mold of guys we like - not only good, but extremely hard-working."

FRANCHISE PLAYER: DE Michael Johnson (tendered at $11.175 million; signed tender March 15).

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (3)

--CB Nate Clements is highly unlikely to be back. He played only eight snaps in the final eight regular-season games and the secondary is trying to be younger.

--S Chris Crocker could be re-signed to another one-year deal. He was signed before Week 4 against Jacksonville and helped stabilize the secondary.

--LB Thomas Howard is a priority to be re-signed but he might have some other teams interested. He led the team in tackles in 2011 but suffered a knee injury prior to Week 2.